Delray Police-student Mentor Program Back On Track

July 7, 2003|By Nancy L. OthM-sn Staff Writer

DELRAY BEACH — An innovative program that aimed to match a dozen police officers with 12 first-graders through their high school graduation has stumbled somewhat in its first four years, but officials say the children who have stuck with the program have a promising future.

The brainchild of Delray Beach police Sgt. David Eberhart, Kids, Cops & Character! has pledged to pay for the college education of any child who successfully completes the program with a 2.0 grade point average and attends 75 percent of the monthly mentoring sessions.

Already, at least three children and four officers have dropped out of the program because they either moved out of the area or changed jobs. That means some officers have been paired with more than one student on occasion. The students in the program are about to enter fifth grade.

"I think they were unrealistic when they started to expect officers to spend their careers on this," said Maj. William McCollom. "It was not a misstep as much as it was their appetite. It was a little idyllic maybe."

Officers who signed up for the program were expected to devote time to mentoring sessions once a month for 12 years.

"It was kind of a problem but it worked out," McCollom said. "The attrition based on kids transferring compensated for the number of officers who left the program."

More than a year ago, police decided to run the program by committee rather than leave the program for Eberhart to organize on his own. Since then, the program has improved because more people have been involved, said Officer Scott McGuire.

"It had fallen by the wayside," McGuire said. "The thing we did right is that we're still with the kids."

It wasn't just that some of the officers quit the department, thereby quitting the program, McGuire said -- some parents had to be gently reminded that the sessions were not baby-sitting time.

Eberhart, who still is involved with the program and tries to meet with his student at Spady Elementary School as often as he can, said the program has gone through an evolution. The program was thought to be the first of its kind in the state.

"I see the future as bright. It's gone great," Eberhart said.

That children might move out of the area or officers could leave the department was a variable that was anticipated, Eberhart said.

"It's not something that caught us by surprise, that people would move on," Eberhart said. "We have a constant source of officers; finding officers isn't a problem."

But McCollom said there never really was a backup plan. Now the committee is changing the criteria for commitment. Officers won't be asked to mentor a child until they graduate -- instead they may be asked to commit to a year or two. The committee also is looking into replacing the children who have dropped out, Eberhart said.

In addition, the committee is looking into ways to come up with the money, whether through grants or donations, that would be necessary for college should any of the children successfully complete the program. No money has been raised, Eberhart said.

"We're not there yet," he said. "We have time, and we're still discussing how we're going to accomplish that."

One option, Eberhart said, is partnering with a Palm Beach County scholarship program, but no decision has been made.

McGuire said he is determined to find the money for the students, including his student partner Johnny.

"We promised these kids college, and I know for sure Johnny will have that," McGuire said. "I owe it to him."

In the meantime, Eberhart and McGuire meet with the students they are paired with as often as possible for sessions that concentrate on character building. The students also have gone on field trips to the movies, the pool and the South Florida Museum of Science and Discovery.

"I get personal satisfaction out of it," said Eberhart, who says his student has become more outgoing and confident since the program began.

"The one thing this program lacks is research that can quantify what we set out to do," he said. "It's purely qualitative in nature. I know we're going out in the community and we're making a difference in their lives."

Those who have invested time in the program say they are still enthusiastic and still optimistic about its future. Some officers who were paired with children who moved out of the area still keep in touch with the students, McCollom said, so even if they didn't finish the program, they came out of it with strong, positive relationships with police officers.

Police have learned about what does and doesn't work for the program and are "re-attacking" their goals with a new enthusiasm, McGuire said.

"It still could finish strong," he said.

Nancy L. OthM-sn can be reached at nothon@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6633.